Gosh eBay can be so tricky for newbies-lol. It's is a relief to identify yourself of the Figs4Fun forum. We feel so much safer letting us know. Sellers, buyers, and even trading can be so hard to judge. Im a little old school, when it comes to trading too, when I give away cuttings for free it is because I believe you are passionate, crazy and nutty as I am, members have done that for me. So I return the favor. I want to trade, I want to buy, but all we can do is hope they go by the honor system too.

I doubt you would ever have a problem with deception here in this forum.   The passion is across the board, but Ebay, Amazon, any bidding site is a whole new ballgame!  I actually bought what I thought was an Italian Honey fig from an online nursery, only to find out it was something much better!  I got my money back, kept the fig, and it turned out to be VdB!

My favorite Ebay thing is "Buy it Now!"  No bidding.  It is what it is!

Suzi

Wahooo!

Honor system works very well in this forum. All the members I had any exchange with take pride in their figs, and provided the very best that they had.

I only hope the few cuttings and rooted cuttings I sent out meet their standard.

Pete

Honor system has worked well on this forum.  I know two members - one from my state and another from Canada - who both ripped off several people here.  One sent intentionally mislabeled cuttings to members in trade for better stuff, the other failed to return anything to most - if not all - that contributed to their collection with promises of rare middle east figs.

I've met nothing but really nice people here and know from their writings that most people are very nice - what else can you expect from plant people? 

It's nice and cozy here....BUT... this is still the big, bad internet, anyone can join with zero screening - people don't even have to join to read everything that is written. Other than a common love of figs, most of us really don't know each other all that well. Felons can also be fig-lovers - so use your common sense as you would in any other public place. No offense intended to anyone. :) 

It scares the living hell out of me when I see new people jump right in the forum asking for free cuttings.  Scares the hell out of me.  Most of them jump in, snatch cuttings, then run.  They offer nothing to the community that offers to them.

I know some of the veterans here are probably tired of hearing me go on the topic, but ... ;) ... It never ends.  I count a couple per month that show up asking, and those people are all but gone tomorrow.  If everyone that asked for cuttings and took off stayed, Figs4Fun would be bigger than Facebook at this point.  Think about it ;)

i would assume your reffering to me ?? im not here to run away just so you know im looking to get some cuttings from here and there so i can grow them and then trade to someone else who needs them just like me i just dont have anything to offer because i dont have anything yet ??? if i cant get cuttings here to re gift how would i ever start ?

it doesnt cost the person cutting the trees anything but some time and im willing to pay the s+h what more could i do ??

Everything I have received was packed carefully and thoughtfully. Can't say the same for other places.

i could only assume your refering to me im not here to just run away im here to get some cuttings and make some fig friends i have nothing to offer yet i need cuttings so i cangrow and then also give back to the community i have plenty of trees here i can cut from but what sense does that make when i have no ide what they are etc how does someone get into the forums and start if this is not the preffered way 

I've been here for a couple years now and I'm definitely not singling out any person, I'm singling out a common behavior.  There's a huge difference.  Tony, if you'd been here or invested the time to read back on every time someone made their first post a request for cuttings - paid, unpaid, on trade, whatever - you'd see this is something I've posted about for years.

My mother always taught me it's not polite to (for example) walk into an auto museum and start asking for parts.  I can't expect everyone to act like my mother taught me, so I tend to share what I've got with folks who don't barge in with requests before they even bother to say hi and share a little bit first, because the folks who do stuff like that barge in and request tend to be gone in hours, days or weeks after asking.  I can throw out about three dozen examples off the top of my head, if you please.

There are people here that will put out with the expectation of returns, so don't get the idea that everyone here is like me.  I still owe a couple of people who put out to me with no expectation of return, to be honest, but I've definitely passed along that kindness to a few dozen around here.  I'm probably just a little more picky and anal about manners and approach. 

Life is like a box of chocolates...

(Please do prove me wrong, bump this thread a year from now after posting once or twice a week)

Tonysac,

Welcome to the forum.

If you are looking for starter trees to enjoy growing figs and have discussion here, there are number of places to look for fig trees.

Your local nursery might have some. Encanto farm which this forum is under might have some. Bass from trees of joy might also have some. Number of the forum members also sell cuttings and plants on ebay... and, if you are lucky, some generous member might offer cuttings.

Stick around awhile and get to know some others. It's nice and friendly here.

Pete

I've only been here a short time - February of this year- almost 3 months. I screwed up my courage and asked for my first cutting from Jon - some extra Adriatics he had - AFTER I purchased close to $100 of cuttings from him, and more from him on ebay. Since then I have asked for a couple others, mostly privately, but it is a very difficult thing for me to do since I am not very pushy about asking for things. (Giving my opinion is another matter. ;))

To be honest, after spending probably close to $200 from various sources for most of my cuttings, I am totally amazed when people come onto a board and the first or second thing they do is ask for cuttings. I sometimes think I was silly to hunt down and pay for what I wanted, but I don't regret it.

Of course now that I have some nice ones started, I'm hoping to be able to do some trading come pruning season..... :)

I'll probably offend some people for saying this but it's how I feel. Sorry about that.

ps. lest you think I am ungenerous, I am planning on giving away locally great numbers of the figs I am starting.

Gina,

It's your tree. You can do what you want with it :)

I just lucked out with my trees. All my trees, I bought them at $15 each. Gene H. was very generous to me. Rafed gave me White Greek, and didn't ask a thing from me even when I offered. More people were willing to share with me. I just want to give back what I can.

Pete

That's awesome. I've been doing rogue plantings around my local area due to lack of space and because I'm just stupid like that. 

Our community garden got 5 trees this year:  Raspberry Latte, LSU Scott's Black, GM #1 (Malta Purple Red), Unk Voiture, Italian Honey.  Before summer cranks up, I plan on donating a Beall, Fico Preto and Negronne to plant at neighbor's houses a few doors down.  I've been planting some of the promising unknowns from other members all the way down the creek that runs for about a half mile behind my house (Unk Foxcroft went in this Saturday!).  Fun times!

You're not the only one that dropped beacoup bucks in your first few months.  I probably spent $100 on cups and potting soil alone based on the hype others were putting out there.  Don't feel bad!  The experience and comraderie around here is worth a hundred times that!

I remember you saying that on another thread. (not the 'stupid' part. ;))  As I was driving home today, I passed by a likely area where planting a fig or three would be nice. But, even though we are a mediterranean climate, the trees would need watering till they were established, and I'm not sure that would happen.

There is a strong possibility I could end up with over 100 plants this year. And of course I have plans for cuttings for next year too. :) So that means getting rid of a lot of this year's plants locally after they are established. I have plant friends with nice bits of land who want to adopt some, there are local community gardens that would be grateful, and I also know a couple organic growers with stands. If they wanted, I'd give some to them too and they could sell them and make a profit for themselves. That would please me to help support such ventures.

I really don't mind having spent money on this hobby - it's been great fun. And it's not over yet.... what do Cubbie fans say? Wait till next year.  :)

TonySac, one problem is that cutting season is mostly over, even in Canada.  People here are very generous.  I think at this point your best bet is to search this forum for nurseries on Long Island.  I'm pretty sure there is one that has some really good figs.  Also search for figs that do well there.  Hardy Chicago is one that comes to mind.  'Fig'ure out which one(s) you want then find it or them via mail order, locally or on Ebay.  I'm pretty sure there's an inexpensive Hardy Chicago on ebay now.  I don't know who the seller is or if they're reliable.  Sometimes cuttings cost more than plants.

Wow!  I haven't noticed people asking for free stuff as new members!!  I've been here since Jan.  I was planning on getting a new tree and asked advice on what to get.  I got lots of advice and purchased a tree locally.  A couple of members offered to send me what they had - I thought that was an awesome gesture!!  I haven't heard from them again but that's OK - I'm sure they have other things to do.  I was just so happy they even thought of offering!

I have arranged for trade with another member!!  My first one.   I don't have a fig to trade with since I only have one tree, but I happen to have some day lilly root stock so that's what I offered and it was accepted to my delight!  I mailed them out today since they do have to get in the ground soon, and I should be receiving my new tree in several months - the honor system.

My tree is a Celeste, and from what I understand it is quite common and I don't foresee being able to trade the cuttings for other varieties and that's fine, I may have something else to trade with in the future if I want to expand.

TonySac - I am originally from LI and there are a lot of nurseries.  Here are a couple of directories you can check out.

http://www.citidexli.com/6131.htm

http://www.magicyellow.com/category/Nurseries_Plants_Trees/Long_Island_NY.html

Tony,
two suggestions
1) Go to control panel and fill in your signature w town, state and USDA zone, it will help in meeting local forum members.
http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/#
2) I know Long Island is big but there's plenty of nurseries and (I'm sure) people w fig trees- put the word out to family, friends, neighbors- I went to a BBQ in Jersey City and got some unknown cuttings and a sucker from my friend's backyard recently.
Good Luck!

The Figs4fun is AWESOME here. I love it. We are all "fig psychos" lol and slightly over protective when it comes to giving away our babies. You'll be fine, I just started my figgy hobby recently, I had awesome welcome! When I do get cool amazing cuttings, I try my best not take advantage of their kindness. I'm learning! Hahaha :-) I'm 28 years old and a member of this forum of one month? I love it here because it's kinda traditional, I have loads of respect of the members here. There's a bunch of what I call "Fig Masters", and I'm "Luke sky walker". I love figs! I love reading variety of topics.

Needing cuttings I bid on some "Brooklyn Brown Italian" cuttings and won. What I was sent was terrible. Instead of what was pictured I got anything from 3 inch cuttings to 6 inch with one node. The seller's response to my complaint was pathetic - beware. This guy is not an honest seller despite his ratings. He's decided that what folks want isn't what he advertises but rather a collection from the garbage pile.

Noss,